Oct. 27, 2003 - This past weekend, Dartmouth's men's water polo team
finished off one of its most successful divisional season's in history. After
going undefeated in league play, the Big Green went 3-0 at the North Atlantic
Divisional Championships to claim top honors in their new division
(Dartmouth has played in New England Division the past 6 seasons). Facing tough
but severely overmatched competition throughout the year, Dartmouth persevered
to claim its fourth divisional title in six years and a trip to the National
Championships at Texas A&M.
The first match of the weekend pitted top-seeded Dartmouth against the number
eight seed, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Big Green had an early 2-1
lead, but then exploded behind a combined five goal effort in just two and a
half minutes by Mike Block '04 and Neil Putman '06. Halfway through the second
quarter Dartmouth had amassed a 12-1 lead over the Engineers. Pulling back its
offense, the Green finished out the game with no further scoring against its
overwhelmed opponent and secured a bid to the semi-finals.
Dartmouth's next contest set the Big Green against fourth-seeded Boston College.
The Golden Eagles always present a very physical style of play, but for the
third time this season, Dartmouth was ready and responded ardently. Co-Captain
Matt Derr '04 led a balanced attack with his game-high four goals. Co-Captain
Ryan Goldhahn '04 added a hat trick and Tom Sanford '04, Kemper Diehl '06 and
Jaren Hayes '07 each added a pair. Dartmouth would advance to the finals via a
15-2 pummeling of a deflated BC.
In the finals, the Big Green was surprised to meet a greatly improved
third-seeded Tufts team as they bested challengers Middlebury in their
semifinal. Nevertheless, Dartmouth held to its formula of hard counter-attacks,
steady half court play and solid defense while taking on the Jumbos. Goldhahn
muscled in four goals and the lightning-quick Diehl added three of his own. Most
notable of all, though was the consistently impregnable defense led by Ross
Markwort '04, Nick Chukiat '05 and goalie Pierce Perotti '06 that allowed a mere
three goals, and only six goals all tournament. Also in this game, Peter Jenks
'05 scored his first goal of the season with time running out in the game to
give Dartmouth a 15-3 victory over Tufts and the North Atlantic Division title.
Dartmouth outscored their divisional competition 42-6 over the weekend and
171-29 over the season, making the average margin of victory a nearly
unbelievable 17-3. Dartmouth will be seeded fifteenth at Nationals as the North
Atlantic Division receives its bid based on no representative of the division
attending last year. The Big Green will face a strong second-seeded team from
the Big Ten Conference in their opening game, but when asked their feelings on
the matter, Goldhahn and Derr both responded simultaneously, "We're
ready."
Oct. 13, 2003 - Dartmouth Mens Water Polo suited up this past weekend for its
first out of conference invitational of the year. Traveling to Connecticut,
the Big Green looked to test their skills against four regional leaders.
In their first competition, Dartmouth jumped in the pool with Army, last year's
New York Division Champs. Playing like a well-oiled machine, the Big Green
finished off the Black Knights 17-10.
Dartmouth's second match featured the varsity squad of Washington &
Jefferson. The match went back and forth with the lead exchanging hands
several times. In the end, the Presidents handed the Big Green their first
defeat since the beginning of league play by a score of 7-6.
Undaunted, Dartmouth looked to take on its next challenger, Ivy League rival and
current New England Division leader, Yale. In what proved to be a very physical
and heated battle, Yale opened up strong, but the Green responded in the second
half. In the fourth quarter, Dartmouth led 14-10, and despite a late game run by
the Bulldogs, the Green held on to win it 14-13.
Dartmouth finished up the weekend by facing the University of Toronto, last
year's Ontario University champs. The Green opened up a quick 6-1 lead
over the Blues and continued to dominate until the end of the game.
Dartmouth defeated Toronto 13-4 to finish off a successful weekend in style.
The offensive flair of Captains Ryan Goldhahn '04 and Matt Derr '04 and the
defensive brilliance of Ross Markwort '04 and Nick Chukiat '05 highlighted
Dartmouth's play. Dartmouth's next test will take place at Bowdoin College, with
the culmination of the Big Green's campaign for the North Atlantic Division
Title and a bid to Nationals.
Sept. 20-21 Photos
The Big Green hosted a tournament where the teams competing against Dartmouth
College included Boston, Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby Colleges
along with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dartmouth was also
undefeated during this competition.
2003 Women third at Nationals
2002, 2003 Women's New England Division Champions
2001
Men seventh at Nationals
1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 Men's New England Division Champions
Personal Achievement Through Teamwork
Competitive water polo demands intelligence, strength, stamina, skill, and above all, consistent teamwork. The superb quality of Dartmouth's academic, athletic, and social life provides an ideal environment for water polo excellence.
Dartmouth water polo has a long, proud history that stretches back to the 1920s. The 1931 squad captured the Intercollegiate Association Championship. While water polo has changed significantly since the early days, Dartmouth still fields championship teams. Dartmouth is widely acknowledged as having one of the nation's fastest growing and most improved programs. Both a men's and a women's team compete intercollegiately for the College, with more than 40 Dartmouth men and women participating. Head Coach Jim Wilson pilots both teams. He also coaches Dartmouth's Division I men's varsity swim team.
Our Men's Dartmouth College Water Polo Club team competes in the fall in the North Atlantic Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association. The other teams included in this division are: Bates College, Boston College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Middlebury College, Tufts University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Last season the Men's team competed in the New England Division. Named to the All-Conference First Team was Matt Derr and Ryan Goldhahn. Jim Wilson was awarded the honor of Coach of the Year.
Our Women's Dartmouth College Water Polo Club team competes in the spring in the New England Division, Southern Region of the CWPA. The other teams included in this division are: Middlebury College, Wesleyan University, Yale University and, a new team in 2003, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Named to the Division All-Conference First Team was Kelly Cameron, Samantha Klau, and Gillian Morshedi, as goaltender. Samantha was also awarded the honor of Most Valuable Player. Kristin Simunovich and Lauren Wondolowski each earned a place on the Second Division All-Conference Team. Jim Wilson was named the Coach of the Year.
Dartmouth Water Polo is proud
to be sponsored by the
Dartmouth Alumni Association
of Silicon Valley